Opening night might be over, but that just means that it’s OPENING WEEKEND! Tons of festival-ness to catch – 20 different screenings, 46 great features and short films, and 1 awesome Roller Disco Party! You definitely won’t want to miss the huge, wild, crazy-fun annual Roller Disco Party at Cell Space. (Cover $10; $5 in costume. 21+)

PLUS! You’ll get the opportunity to see filmmakers and Q&A sessions for: A Sentence Apart; Backyard; Bean; Dreamland; Drugs; El Milagro de Stockton; Il Vincitore (all the way from Italy!); Last Day at the Nut House; Less Adolescent (all the way from Australia!); Limbo Lounge; Lollipop Man; Me, You, a Bag & Bamboo; My Movie Girl; New American Soldier; Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank; Penance; Point Traverse; Second Nature; and West of Pluto!

So – go! Go now! Get your tickets at http://www.sfindie.com – or you can check out the entire film fest schedule at http://sfindie.bside.com/2010/schedule/week – we’ll see you at the Roxie Theater (3117 16th Street, San Francisco)!

Friday, February 5th

7:15 PM Limbo Lounge

7:15 PM Less Adolescent

9:30 PM Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead

9:30 PM Beyond the Pole

Saturday, February 6th

2:45 PM Less Adolescent

2:45 PM Games of Telephone (True Beauty This Night; Sapsucker; Christmas Night with Fritz Dubert; The One Last Time; Felicita; Nice Shootin' Cowboy)

5:00 PM West of Pluto

5:00 PM The End Is Not The End (Adrift; The Last Page; In Space; Dreamland; Tungijuq; Rufus)

7:15 PM A+D

7:15 PM City Island

8:00 PM Roller Disco Party

9:30 PM My Movie Girl

9:30 PM Lilli + Secure Space

Sunday, February 7th

2:45 PM Beyond the Pole

2:45 PM Life NorCal-Style (Drugs; Second Nature; El Milagro de Stockton; New American Soldier; A Sentence Apart)

5:00 PM Bonecrusher + Heartland Transport

5:00 PM None of the Above (Medicine Man; Emotion Malfunction; Life On Earth; The Gynaecologist; Il Vincitore (The Winner))

7:15 PM Oh My God! Its Harrod Blank! + Last Day at the Nut House

7:15 PM You're Not The Only, Lonely (Bean; Weight; Me, You, A Bag, & Bamboo; Backyard; Penance; Lollipop Man)

9:30 PM The Blood of Rebirth

9:30 PM Point Traverse

What a weekend – packed with so much music, we could hardly contain it! But don’t worry, you’re in luck: we’ve got a few more days of great bands and musicians to rock the week away. Check out the schedule and get your tickets in advance at www.sfindie.com – and tweet a hello before / during / or after the shows to the bands (their twitter profiles are after the @s below). Just tell ‘em @SFIndieFest sent you!



Monday February 1st @ 8pm -- Bottom of the Hill -- 1233 17th St, San Francisco
Scene of Action (@sceneofaction); Luke Franks Or The Federalists (@thefederalists); The Hundred Days; Please Do Not Fight (@pdnf)

Monday February 1st @ 8pm -- Thee Parkside -- 1600 17th St, San Francisco
Duckmandu; The Devil-Ettes (@Devilettes); Tom Jonesing, unplugged; The Goldenhearts

Tuesday February 2nd @ 8pm -- Thee Parkside -- 1600 17th St, San Francisco
kuma/koshka; Fake Your Own Death; Two Sheds (@twoshedsband); Grand Lake (@Grand_Lake)

Wednesday February 3rd @ 8pm -- Bottom of the Hill -- 1233 17th St, San Francisco
Fighting The Villain (@FTVband); Tempo No Tempo; The Hot Toddies (@TheHotToddies); The Downer Party (@TheDownerParty)

Wednesday February 3rd @ 8pm -- Thee Parkside -- 1600 17th St, San Francisco
Damn Handsome and the Birthday Suits (@damnhandsome); Switchblade Riot (@SwitchbladeRiot); Blammos; David Luning and the Third Wheels

You’re Indie; we’re Indie. There’s no reason not to be Indie – together! We’re building up some great ways to get you in touch with all the best of the independent community (at www.twitter.com/sfindiefest and on facebook of course) – including the filmmakers and musicians themselves. If you have something to share – suggestions, ideas, opinions, reviews, blogs, photos, videos – boost your community cred by posting it all here or send us a message or tweet. You can also check out sfindie.bside.com/2010 for ratings and the latest audience buzz for every show and screening of the Winter Film Fest and Indie Film Fest. So, come on and be independent – with us!

You know how you have ‘that one friend’ who is always so organized and their day is planned out by the hour... Or that other one who is really into music and keeps you updated on all the really great bands playing in town... The self-proclaimed film buff who always tells you which movies you should be watching... The another-day-another-party social butterfly that seemingly shares a pulse with the city… Even that friend who always remembers those great moments of past years with nearly inhuman capacity for memory...

Well... www.sfindie.com just became all of those friends, conveniently rolled up in one! That’s right, the website is now LIVE with all the 2010 festival info you can handle!

Check out the schedule for the Winter Music Fest (January 29 – February 4) as well as the Indie Film Fest (February 4 – 18), and even create and print out your own calendar with just the events you want to attend! (Oh, who are we kidding – we know you want to attend it all; you might as well just go ahead and buy your festival passes now.)

Feel free to make an ‘educated decision’ for yourself and read up about the diverse bands and incredible films taking part this year, or hearken back to your ‘real’ education – snag a ticket to the Big Lebowski Party or Roller Disco Party!

And for those of you who just can’t get enough of looking at a website, you can always relive your favorite IndieFest memories in the Archives. We won’t judge.

Those funny rumors you’ve heard (“What’s that - a music festival AND a film festival?”) – well we just can’t avoid it anymore. They’re all true. We’re coming clean by the end of the week – our secrets will be out! Bands galore, films to die for – yes, we were involved with every last bit of it. We hope you’ll find it in your heart somewhere to forgive us for putting together so many good things – because we did it all for you! I know we’ll never be the same again, but... we’ll always have www.sfindie.com – always.

(Keep an eye out for news and updates very soon. And don't forget to become a fan on facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SF-IndieFest/236660519671 - see you there!)

SF IndieFest is preparing to launch its inaugural Winter Music Festival – with a stellar lineup of 43 bands playing 11 showcases over 7 days! Whether you’re a rock purist or looking to delve into a new take on the genre – some Alternative Progressive Rock, or classic-rock-ti...nged alt-country-flavored indie-rock, perhaps? – you’ll find something perfect to appease your eardrums.

The festival features performances from Bird By Bird (Jonathan Devoto of The Matches), Dave Smallen, Finish Ticket, Grand Lake, Judgement Day, Kid Beyond, Luke Franks Or The Federalists, Maus Haus, Scene of Action, Tempo No Tempo and many, many, many, many others! A great set list, guaranteed not to leave you cold this winter – so keep an eye out for forthcoming updates to www.sfindie.com and more news and messages on facebook, myspace, and twitter!

SF IndieFest unleashes ghosts, madmen, monsters, and futuristic merriment at the 6th annual Another Hole in the Head Film Festival running June 5-18, 2009 at the Roxie Film Center, 3117 Sixteenth Street, in San Francisco. For tickets or more information please call (415) 820-3907 or click on www.sfindie.com.

If the myriad traumas of daily life in the big city get to be too much and it seems like only neuron-shattering screams or a trip to an alternate universe will ease your mind, then the Another Hole in the Head Film Festival is just what the mad doctor ordered. Once again Hole in the Head presents the finest in contemporary horror, horror-comedy, sci-fi and dark fantasy with a collection of films from America and abroad, all the mayhem that fits on a celluloid print.

All About 6th annual Another Hole In The Head Film Festival

Locals bring death and damnation…and world premieres
Another Hole in the Head is pleased to host the US Premiere of Brazilian Director Paulo Biscaia’s film, MORGUE STORY  - SANGUE, BAIACU, & QUADRINHOS. Ana Argento, an accomplished cartoon artist frustrated with her relationships meets two other lonely characters with peculiar lives. Tom is a chronic cataleptic who makes his living selling life insurance.  Daniel Torres is a sociopath and rapist coroner.  Their lives could only intersect in one place: the morgue.

San Francisco filmmaker Jonathan Lewis gets psycho-sexual with BLACK DEVIL DOLL, a sleazy Blaxploitation Horror film best described as Chucky meets DOLEMITE. A young, moist, buxom teen vixen finds herself hurled into an odyssey of forbidden sex and unspeakable violence after an innocent evening dabbling in the occult. What started as a simple child's game has now become a fight for her life. What is this evil that she has summoned from beyond? And why does it have a ‘fro? What kind of horrific acts will she be subjected to? And what price will her super-hot, half-nude friends have to pay? But more importantly, how much Caucasian blood will have to be shed to stop the BLACK DEVIL DOLL?!!"

Fry up some bacon and dig into THE PIG PEOPLE, directed by David Gueringer and starring rapper and former Oakland resident Master P.  After multiple unsolved murders took place in a rural community, myths began to spread about pig people who lived in an abandoned cabin hidden deep in the forest.  A group of precocious college students decide to research and investigate the legend and head into the forest armed only with a camera and delusions of exposing the Pig People to the world.  

Tales of fright and fun from the US and Beyond
Adam Mason, the director of BROKEN and THE DEVIL’S CHAIR, reigns down psychological madness and Old Testament-style vengeance in BLOOD RIVER, a nuanced fable that combines horror, drama and western influences. Clark and his pregnant wife Summer are driving through the Nevada desert on the way to deliver the news to her parents when their car breaks down. Taking refuge in a ghost town, the two meet a lone drifter who believes he is God’s avenger and sets his sites on the two to answer for their supposed crimes.

American filmmaker Brian S. O’Malley offers us bloody murder and rollicking romance in AUDIE AND THE WOLF.  When the moon is full, a friendly wolf turns into a savage, bloodthirsty man and goes on a killing spree in a starlet's Hollywood mansion. AUDIE AND THE WOLF is a dark comedy/horror feature in the spirit of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, and EVIL DEAD 2 and offers a topsy-turvy take on the classic werewolf legend.

Inspired by the classic 1970’s Rape and Revenge films comes Joseph Guzman’s RUN! BITCH RUN!  Catherine and Rebecca are two Catholic School girls going door-to-door selling Religious paraphernalia in order to pay for their books and education. Things go horribly wrong when they knock on the wrong door in the wrong neighborhood. After she is brutally raped and left for dead, Catherine awakes with one thing on her mind: REVENGE.

Also focusing on the subject of revenge comes the action-packed, multi-award winning Australian thriller THE HORSEMEN, directed by Steven Kastrissios. Christian, a divorced father and white-collar businessman grieves over the complicated death of his daughter. When a video arrives anonymously in the mail, featuring his daughter heavily intoxicated and mistreated, Christian sets out on a reckless journey to find answers. Fuelled by rage and sorrow, the death toll quickly rises as he uncovers an ugly truth. Along the way he meets Alice, a young runaway not unlike his daughter and a fragile friendship begins to unfold.

Coming to us directly from the UK is the indie horror/thriller THE DEAD OUTSIDE.  In the stark aftermath of a neurological pandemic, two strangers come together on an isolated Scottish farm. April, a 16 year-old survivor with a dark past, has survived alone for months. Daniel, a man bereaved, clings desperately on to hope of life in the outside world. Questioning his own sanity in the face of the maddened and distant cries of the suffering, he finds that the true enemy isn't the virus but something much closer to home.  THE DEAD OUTSIDE is the debut feature from Scottish music video director Kerry Anne Mullaney.

Sushi Westerns and High School Violence – Japanese Cinema at its Best!
From Japan comes Takahashi Miike’s CROWS ZERO.  Based on Takahashi Hiroshi's best-selling manga Crows, the film takes Miike to familiar territory — high school gang violence — and he cuts through the subject matter at high-octane speed for a stylized, action-packed, and entertaining schoolyard brawl of a movie.  The story centers around the character Genji Takaya (Shun Oguri), a newcomer to Suzuran High School who aims to conquer Suzuran.  Genji makes a deal with his father, Hideo Takitani (Goro Kishitani) — if he can conquer the school, he will be allowed to succeed his father as the head of his yakuza syndicate.

Inspired by the classic spaghetti westerns comes Kurando Mitsutake’s SAMURAI AVENGER: THE BLIND WOLF. While camping in the desert a family gets attacked by a notorious psychopath.  The wife and daughter are slaughtered, and the man is forced to remove his own eyes. Eight years after the massacre, the man has returned to the desert town, now a highly trained samurai swordsman ready to seek justice. But he doesn't know there awaits seven assassins hired by his sworn enemy who want the bounty on his head. Set in nowhere, no time, this bloody modern day fable is a new age hybrid action film with a classic samurai essence and a spaghetti western spirit.

Sci-Fi, Scientists and the Id – A Delightful Documentary
In his feature film debut, Director David Gargani explores Sci-Fi and science in THE MONSTER FROM THE ID.  The 1950's was an idealistic time in American History. It was also the Atomic Age where new technology promised to both save humanity as well as destroy it. All of these factors gave birth to the most prolific genres in film history, 1950's Sci-Fi Cinema. More then just little green men, 50's Sci-fi Cinema provided inspiration for the generation who achieved one of the greatest accomplishments of mankind; Spaceflight. Monsters From The Id weaves the intersecting themes of over 30 films in order to tell the untold story of the Modern Scientist and his role in inspiring a nation. The film continues to explore the psychological and cultural impact of 50's Sci-Fi cinema in America and asks, 'where is science inspiration found today?'

Green Filmmaking plus a Sci-Fi Twist equals a Sexually Stimulating Treat
From the demented and eco-friendly mind of Director Mike Davis comes SEX GALAXY, a new sci-fi sexploitation comedy (also known as "scixploitation”). A unique experiment in filmmaking created in the laboratories of Hollywood's infamous Stag Films, "Sex Galaxy" is made of 100% recycled material thus making it the world's first 'green' movie.  Taking place one hundred years in the future, sex has been declared illegal on Earth due to overpopulation and the effects of global warming.  When a crew of astronauts learn of a distant planet inhabited by insatiable female creatures who exist only to satisfy man’s desires, they decide to take a detour from their routine mission in search of the mythical star system known as the Sex Galaxy. But like all expeditions fueled solely by lust and carnality, risk lurks around every corner, danger and regret at every turn.

Ticket prices and general information
Another Hole In The Head Film Festival runs June 5-18, 2009 at the Roxie Film Center, 3117 Sixteenth Street, in San Francisco. Advance tickets prices are $10.00 (no advance ticket service charges!) for films. The Hole Head Pass is $100.  Advance tickets are available at www.sfindie.com. Same day tickets are $11.00 and only available at the theater.  A five film voucher is $45.00 and a ten film voucher is $85.00.  Pass holders get first priority on seating. The box office opens 30 minutes before the first show of the day. For all screenings please arrive 15 minutes before show time to assure seating.

For more information please call (415) 820-3907 or click on www.sfindie.com.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL INDIEFEST
FEBRUARY 5-19, 2009 IN SAN FRANCISCO
CASTRO THEATRE, ROXIE CINEMAS, SHATTUCK THEATRE

NOW MORE FESTIVE THAN EVER WITH PARTIES GALORE
CELEBRATING ELEVEN YEARS OF INDEPENDENT FILMS


The Eleventh Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest), featuring more than 80 absolutely independent films and videos, unspools February 5-19, 2009 at Bay Area theatres including the Roxie Cinemas, 3117 16th Street; Shattuck Theatre, 2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley and Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street in San Francisco. Tickets are $10.50 for each screening and $25 for Opening Night (including the after-party), $200 for Festival Pass good for all films and parties. For tickets or more information, telephone (415) 820-3907 or click on www.sfindie.com.

World Premieres
Always an exciting part of the Festival is films that have never seen screened before on our shores. This year's world premieres of LET THEM KNOW: THE STORY OF YOUTH BRIGADE AND BYO RECORDS, and MORRIS COUNTY fit the bill.

LET THEM KNOW: THE STORY OF YOUTH BRIGADE AND BYO RECORDS takes you through the last 25 years of an independent Punk Rock label. The story is told through interviews and rare footage of the explosive LA Punk Rock scene from the 80's until current. Riots, harassment from the law, amazing bands, crazy stories and best of all, a real and earnest desire to change the world through punk rock are captured in this documentary. MORRIS COUNTY by Matthew Garrett is an equal parts drama, horror, true-crime anthology and life-cycle piece following three sets of characters on their individual journeys into oblivion.

Narrative Highlights, from home and abroad
This year's Festival features numerous dramatic narrative highlights including THE 27 CLUB, I SELL THE DEAD, EUGENE, HOME MOVIE, ROUTE 30 and HARRISON MONTGOMERY.

THE 27 CLUB, by filmmaker Erica Dunton is a wholly unforgettable story about two band members, Tom and Elliot. Tom is dead. Elliot is left behind. Tom was the front man of their successful band, Finn. He died of his 27th birthday. They've spent their whole lives side by side. Elliot is left to decide if he, too, will join the 27 Club. Jimmy Hendrix, Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain also belong to this infamous club-they all died at 27. As Tom and Elliot's story is revealed, and the history of their life unfolds, it's clear that it takes more than just a number to determine one's fate.

In I SELL THE DEAD, Writer-Director Glenn McQuaid transforms New York City into the 18th century British Isles to tell this horror/comedy starring Dominic Monaghan (LORD OF THE RINGS) and Larry Fessenden. Arthur Blake (Monaghan) and Willie Grimes (Fessenden) are a pair of grave robbers who are headed to the guillotine but first are given the opportunity to give their life stories to a priest (Ron Perlman). EUGENE, directed by Jake Barsha, is a psychological thriller about a lonely bachelor who befriends a young hustler and his girlfriend, with disastrous results for all involved.
HOME MOVIE, directed by Christopher Denham, documents one family's descent into darkness, using a compilation of found home-made footage. ROUTE 30 directed by John Putch contains three interconnecting stories set along the Lincoln Highway is South Central Pennsylvania. DEER HUNTERS' WIVES tells of the frustrations of Civil War tour guide Mandy, who obsesses on Jenny Wade, the only civilian killed at the battle of Gettysburg. WHAT I BELIEVE focuses on a man who seeks the help of a Christian Scientist to heal his back pain and explain the Bigfoot that chased him down the mountainside. ORIGINAL BILL is the story of a writer who buys a farmhouse in the country in hopes to find unique inspiration to write his novel.

Filmed in the Bay Area, HARRISON MONTGOMERY tells the tale of would-be artist Ricardo Papa as he tries to make ends meet as a petty drug dealer in the poverty-stricken Tenderloin district. On the run from his boss and on the outs with his girlfriend, he takes up residence in the dilapidated Hotel Boyd. There he crosses paths with thirteen-year-old Lattie Flemming who charms Ricardo with her fearless and beguiling attitude. As they grow closer, Ricardo learns that Lattie's mother, Margo, is trapped in an abusive relationship that puts mother and child in jeopardy. When Ricardo desperately presses to make good on a deal gone bad, he encounters another of the Boyd's residents, Harrison Montgomery. Ricardo discovers that this aging recluse has a secret—a secret that could solve all of Ricardo's problems. With his boss closing in, and Margo and Lattie on the ropes, Ricardo is forced to choose between saving himself, and saving his only friends.

Comedies include the zany SUPER HAPPY FUN MONKEY BASH, a 90 minute compilation of mind-boggling insanity from Japanese television produced by Tim League of Austin's Alamo Drafthouse. You'll see A-list American celebrities pimping themselves out for cheap Japanese products, bawdy situation comedies, unexpected nudity, extreme pro-wrestling, bizarre anti-flatulence products, nonsensical English phrases, supreme goofiness, lots and lots of foam rubber costumes, and featuring plenty of excerpts from the Japanese CNN (Chimpanzee News Network). Most importantly, however, the 2009 edition is a tribute to veteran TV funnyman Hitoshi Matsumoto, one of the best-known comedians in Japan today. The program will feature extended scenes from his long-running series DOWNTOWN as well as more recent spin-off shows such as Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ and no Subera nai Hanas.

On the docket of documentaries, 'The Big Lebowski' is King
The highlight of this year's documentary line-up is THE ACHIEVERS-THE STORY OF LEBOWSKI FANS. Amazed by the cult phenomenon of 'The Big Lebowski", Director Eddie Chung set out to Las Vegas and began filming a documentary about a festival dedicated to the movie. So enamored by what he saw, he not only captured the events but became ingrained in the social fabric of the Lebowski Fest and its participants. San Francisco has it own annual Lebowski Fest, SF IndieFest's Big Lebowski Party! Read on for party info!

Parties and celebrations abound!
IndieFest loves films, and they also love a good party! In addition to the Opening and Closing night shindigs, IndieFest has events going almost every night of the Festival, so you can party outta bounds.

Opening Night Party, happening on February5, will take place at CellSpace with live performances by the Extra Action Marching Band and Live Evil. The party starts at 9:00pm and runs until 1:00am. Admission is $10, $5 in costume, free with any IndieFest ticket stub or advance ticket receipt.

The Hand Jive, IndieFest's GREASE themed Wrap Party will take place on February 20 at CellSpace from 9:00pm to 1:00am. Live bands, a Dance Off!, hyper-50s attire recommended!. Admission is $10, $5 in greaser/bobby socks get up or free with any IndieFest ticket stub or advance ticket receipt.

Pack up your skates, fire up the time machine and get loaded at the Roller Disco Party on Feb. 13 at Cell Space. There will be rentable skates provided by Black Rock Roller Disco and the hippest of retro tunes spinning on the sound system as you travel back in time. The party will be rockin from 8:00pm to 2:00am. Admission is $10, $5 in costume and free with any IndieFest ticket stub or advance ticket receipt.

Now in it's sixth year, the Big Lebowski Party takes a load off on Feb, 7 at CellSpace from 8:00pm to 2:00am. Come dressed as your favorite Lebowski character. Enjoy some white Russians, bowl in the Fest's mini bowling alley, follow in Maud's footsteps down the zip line, and watch this 1998 Coen Brothers' film projected on the wall. But remember the Dude abides. Admission is $10, $5 in costume and free with any IndieFest ticket stub or advance ticket receipt.

Of course, if you cannot wait until the films begin on February 5, IndieFest offers a Benefit/Launch Party on January 23 at the Elbo Room – with the band The Shotgun Wedding Quintet, The Ex-Boyfriends and Pollo del Mar, plus a slew of festival previews and beer specials. Happening from 9:00pm to 2:00am, the event is 21 and up and admission is $10. All proceeds benefit SF IndieFest.

A very brief and glorious history of IndieFest, in case you are wondering
In 1998 Jeff Ross realized there was no avenue available for his friend Rand Alexander to show his film, CAGED, even though it had played the prestigious Slamdance Film Festival that same year. Jeff took to the streets and put on a four-day event financed, like many of the films presented, with his personal credit cards. The event was welcomed with an audience of over 3,000 people. The following year IndieFest grew to a nine-day event with over 4,200 in attendance. Over a decade later, IndieFest draws crowds of 11,000 and continues to support and celebrate maverick filmmakers and their work.

Information about 2009 SF IndieFest
The Eleventh Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest), a worldwide blend of more than 100 independent films and videos, unspools February 5-19, 2009 at Bay Area theatres including the Roxie Cinemas, 3117 16th Street; Shattuck Theatre, 2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley and Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street in San Francisco. Tickets are $10.50 for each screening and $25 for Opening Night (including the after-party), $200 for Festival Pass and all parties. For tickets or more information, telephone (415) 820-3907 or click on www.sfindie.com.